Quote Originally Posted by pipster View Post
That's all fine and dandy Sludgey but... picture the scene - Sir Keir and Angie have just completed the total re nationalisation - we are back to British Rail. Responsible for all trains, track, repairs, drivers, conductors etc - fantastic. Until British Rail union members decide to go on strike for more (insert ludicrous demand here).

All of a sudden with great ease - they could bring down the entire rail network. Every person now employed by the Govt. East coast service is cr@p - we'll get companies to re tender and dont renew the current supplier - under British Rail - you are stuck with them.

Inefficiency, no motivation to innovate, probable political interference, zero accountability, zero competition, if you want that good luck to you. Much better off using the Japan Rail model - rather than the usual socialist guff policy that never worked and will fail again. But hey ho - I'm sure you have thought this through - and it will all be fine - just like it was in the 70's
Labour (Louise Haigh) nationalisation plans specifically exclude rolling stock and (I think) the track. It is just about bringing the operations of the train operating companies back into public control as and when the contracts expire.

Not sure of the rationale for this half and half plan - though assume it is so they can say it will not cost a penny (and will make big savings for the Treasury). The figure they are using is £2.2 billion per year after 5 years. With that they should be able to buy back the trains and track too - and have an integrated transport system.

It will make a change from the government temporarily nationalising routes when train franchises fail and then giving them away again when they have recovered. Or in other words a change from nationalising debt and privatising profit. Or in other words a change from tax payers subsidising shareholders. Or in other words parasite capitalism.